Adelanto’s election takes shape

ADELANTO— The city's election is taking shape as three people have pulled papers to run for City Council and one has pulled to run for mayor.

Each of them have previously held office or campaigned for office in Adelanto. None of them have formally filed as candidates, and the deadline to do so is August 8. If none of the city's incumbents file as candidates, then the deadline will extend until August 13.

After serving as mayor in the 1980s, Edward Dunagan, currently owner of Dunagan Construction, pulled papers to seek the office again. In his previous office as a councilman, Dunagan helped originate the idea for Adelanto's industrial parks to generate jobs. The Daily Press attempted to contact Dunagan, who was unavailable for comment Monday.

In the City Council race, former Planning Commissioner Edgar "Ed" Camargo has decided to seek a higher office. Camargo pushed for a skate park and bike parks before being dropped from his four years of appointed office on the Planning Commission when former Councilman Scott McCauley resigned.

"A lot of times I think people's voices in the community don't get heard and a councilman's voice carries farther than a planning commissioner's," said Camargo. "My boys grew up in Adelanto and I didn't see much of anything for the young. I have grandchildren coming along and I want them to have the same activities that other cities do."

Another previous candidate, France J. "Abe" Abercrombie, has started collecting signatures for the City Council race. Previously a candidate for City Council in 2000 and 2002, the partner at Golden Sands Real Estate said he wasn't as devoted to those elections since his friend Edward K. Dondelinger had been ill.

"We need to get some more commercial retail and more city parks," said Abercrombie. "A lot of people I know in the real estate and business community are familiar with these issues and I'll pick their brains. I don't have a lot of specifics ready, but I'm doing my research."

Another prospective City Council candidate with previous forays into Adelanto politics is Cari Rae Thomas. In June, Thomas applied to fill McCauley's seat on the City Council. The Daily Press attempted to contact Thomas, who was unavailable for comment Monday.